Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Matter of Opinion archive for Jan. 1, 2010

MONDAY, JUNE 7, 2010

Gulf Coast clean-up 19 

I drove up the West Coast from Arizona in the late 1980s and stopped for a short stroll on the beach in Santa Barbara. i was amazed to see the tar on the bottom of my shoes. It was a remnant from a spill that…

Continue reading this post »

FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 2010

Benton bows out 

GOP primary narrows.Don Benton, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, last week on staying in the race despite Rossi's entry:“We can no longer look to the establishment to turn our economy and our country around. The people want an independent voice that will take on both…

Continue reading this post »

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 2010

Tea Party and Washington state 132 

This University of Washington Poll is pretty interesting, because it segregates Tea Party diehards from those who are somewhat sympathetic on some issues. Thought the libertarians here would be interested in this observation from Bruce Bartlett.What I think this poll shows is that taxes and…

Continue reading this post »

TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2010

America held hostage, by ignorance 20 

Only 1 percent of respondents could name all nine Supreme Court justices. Two-thirds could not name a single one.In a related note, "Nightline" scored its highest ratings since its re-launch in 2005 with its interview with Jesse James. You know, the guy who cheated on…

Continue reading this post »


FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2010

Looks like extra innings in Senate race 

Rasmussen poll reports that Dino Rossi's formal announcement hasn't broken the tie between him and his target, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray. Check it out here. With half a dozen Republicans possibly in the contest, I also have to wonder if Washington's top-two primary will produce…

Continue reading this post »

THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2010

Police ombudsman back in the news 

Here is our editorial on the topic.Here is what the reports look like on the Boise ombudsman's Web site.Here is the Monday council meeting (click on "City Council meetings:, then select May 24th), which had a lot of emotional comments from citizens about their interactions…

Continue reading this post »

MONDAY, MAY 24, 2010

Ex-SR photographer shoots amid danger 

Holly Pickett, a former staff photographer here, has one of the best blogs I've seen. Helps that she shoots such compelling photos in such newsworthy hotspots as Afghanistan and Iraq. She's in Iraq now and recently had a photo on the front page of The…

Continue reading this post »


Rossi, income tax and more 

Looks like Dino Rossi will challenge Patty Murray, though Tea Party appears to favor Clint Didier. Should be interesting. Meanwhile this Washington Poll has fodder for discussion, including:1. Murray edging Rossi, though it's early and he hadn't officially announced.2. State income tax initiative holding wide…

Continue reading this post »


The May 24 Thread 14 

According to my calendar, it is Victoria Day in Canada, which is pegged to Queen Victoria's birthday and is the official start of summer up north. So, happy Canada Summer Day!This is an open thread.

Continue reading this post »

WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 2010

TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2010

Social Security tweaks 101 

Congressional report shows what it would take to sustain it. Here are some options. Doesn't look so daunting to me. For instance:Modify the Social Security tax cap. Workers pay into the Social Security system on earnings up to $106,800 in 2010. About 83 percent of…

Continue reading this post »

MONDAY, MAY 17, 2010

Is everything political? Miss USA? 10 

Blogger notes frequency of Muslim winners. Commenters take it from there. Who is Daniel Pipes? Noted here.Some liberals critique the very fact that these events take place. This neocon doesn't mind that, but he wonders about the process for picking winners.To repeat the title: Is…

Continue reading this post »



"Cruel and unusual punishment" 

That's the rationale for the Supremes striking down state laws that put people younger than 18 in prison for life without the possibility of parole for crimes that come up short of murder.Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, speaking for the court, said a life prison term…

Continue reading this post »

THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2010

Health Care Reform 645 

Put your thoughts on the health care debate in this thread here. I'll update this as needed and keep it on the blog's "front page."UPDATE: Here is a handy chart on how the health care bill might affect you.UPDATE: UW Law School holds debate on…

Continue reading this post »



Education reform 135 

What is "basic education?" What should be included/excluded? How to fix it? How to pay for it? Should the feds have a role?Put your education thoughts here, and I'll keep in on the front page.UPDATE: Only two states -- Delaware and Tennessee -- are awarded…

Continue reading this post »

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2010

Portland mayor fires police chief 

Why? Probably for the way the department handled an in-custody death of a mentally ill man. That saga lasted 3 1/2 years. Sounds familiar. It didn't help that the chief criticized some budget cuts.So there's that intersection of mental illness and criminal justice again.Jason Renaud,…

Continue reading this post »

MONDAY, MAY 10, 2010


WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2010


Taxed enough already? 74 

Nearly half of households paid no federal income taxes for 2009. Before that the top two rates were lowered.About 47 percent will pay no federal income taxes at all for 2009. Either their incomes were too low, or they qualified for enough credits, deductions and…

Continue reading this post »

MONDAY, MAY 3, 2010

Arizona immigration law 201 

So the Arizona governor signed the bill that allows law enforcement to ask for papers if they have "reasonable suspicion." What are the reasonable "tells" of illegal immigrants? The governor said she didn't know.UPDATE: Arizona lawmakers modify law over profiling concerns. Now race cannot be…

Continue reading this post »


The May 3 thread 168 

Newsroom just heard on the police scanner that a tree blew down and is on fire. Guess that tops my plight: lost a section of backyard fence. If there's one place I always lose, it's fence politics. I've replaced the north and south sides at…

Continue reading this post »

A Matter of Opinion is really a matter of three opinions – those held by the people responsible for the opinion pages of The Spokesman-Review. Check in regularly to find out what they’re up to, what they think and where they differ and to joust with them if you want.



Blog Archives

Dec. 2010 Nov. 2010 Oct. 2010 Sept. 2010
Aug. 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010
April 2010 March 2010 Feb. 2010 Jan. 2010